DiploNews - Issue 341 - 15 February 2018

Upcoming study and training opportunities

This new course aims to assist permanent missions to the UN in New York to actively follow the increasingly relevant fields of digital policy and Internet governance (IG), with a focus on dynamics in the UN. The course, offered by the Geneva Internet Platform and delivered byDiploFoundation, will benefit diplomats who follow IG, digital policy, cybersecurity, and related policy fields (e.g. telecommunications, human rights, trade). While improving their knowledge of digital policy, participants will also gain the practical skills and knowledge required to follow current IG processes. The course focuses on diplomatic and policy processes in the UN in New York. Due to the blended-learning course format, which includes weekly face-to-face meetings, registration is open only to applicants based in New York. For selected applicants, the course costs are fully covered by the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland. The course starts on 4 April 2018. Read more on the course webpage, and apply by 23 March.

Negotiation Skills

Non-traditional areas of diplomacy (education diplomacy, health diplomacy, Internet governance, humanitarian diplomacy, development diplomacy, and more) require the use of diplomatic skills to build bridges across sectors, diverse actors, and borders. This course on Negotiation Skills, offered by DiploFoundation and the Center for Education Diplomacy, is a practical, interactive course that equips participants with the skills to successfully prepare, undertake, and conclude negotiations in formal and informal settings with government and non-government actors alike. The course introduces the concept and principles of negotiation and reflects on the role of power and empathy in negotiation. It introduces key skills supported by case studies and practical learning activities, including an online simulation exercise. Rather than going into the theoretical considerations of negotiation, such as game theory or group decision-making theory, the course focuses on key skills that are valuable for a variety of negotiations. The course starts on 23 April 2018. Read more on the course webpage and apply by 26 March 2018.

May 2018 online diplomacy courses

Starting on 7 May 2018, we offer courses on diplomacy topics, both classic and contemporary:

Thanks to support from the government of Malta, partial scholarships are available for applicants from developing countries to attend upcoming Diplo online courses. These scholarships cover 30%–60% of course fees and can be applied to most online courses in 2018. Browse our course catalogue and contact us at admissions@diplomacy.edu for further information. You can also signup for our courses mailing list to be informed about upcoming courses.

Diplo launches Data diplomacy: Updating diplomacy to the big data era

On 8 February, DiploFoundation launched a new report on the potential of big data in diplomacy. The report – Data Diplomacy: Updating diplomacy to the big data era – was commissioned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland. It maps the main opportunities of big data in different areas of diplomacy, proposing ways for ministries of foreign affairs to capture its potential, and describes the key considerations to take into acount for big data to flourish. The event was attended by diplomatic representations, international organisations, and civil society in Geneva. Read the press release, the full report, or the executve summary.

The Geneva Internet Platform explores data challenges for international organisations

With a growing number of different forms of data available for international affairs, international organisations are faced with the challenge of adapting most effectively to benefit from this 'data revolution'. The GIP has published a briefing paper that maps some of the key issues related to data management at international organisations: data analysis, data storage, data sharing, data protection, data regulation, and data capacity. The paper's insights have been informed by the Data Talks – monthly discussions with international organisations on the topic of data – and relevant sessions at the 12th Internet Governance Forum.

Internet governance in February

What were the main Internet governance updates in February, and how will they shape future developments? What can we expect in March? Join us for our next monthly briefing, on Tuesday, 27th February, for a round-up of the major global IG and digital policy developments. Registrations are now open.

The workshop for the 2018 Master/Postgraduate Diploma in Contemporary Diplomacy programme, which took place on 5–14 February in Malta, welcomed participants from all over the world. During the workshop, which marked the first stage of the programme, a range of diplomacy-related sessions were delivered by experienced practitioners. Topics included negotiations, language and influence, diplomatic protocol, consular affairs, and public speaking.

What's been happening in Diplo's blogsphere

In our blogsphere, Diplo’s director Jovan Kurbalija makes his Confessions of a #DigitalDiplomat. He starts by asking the question: Is diplomacy better off with the Internet? Beyond unfounded techno-optimism and techno-pessimism, he makes three suggestions for reconciling diplomacy and technology: focus on diplomacy’s main functions, place the ‘do no harm’ principle at the core of digital diplomacy, and foster compromise.

Browse resources

DiploFoundation

Towards more inclusive and effective diplomacy

Diplo is a non-profit foundation established by the governments of Malta and Switzerland. Diplo works to increase the role of small and developing states, and to improve global governance and international policy development.